Palestinian Gunmen Hold Court Hostages

December 20, 1985|United Press International

NANTES, FRANCE — A gunman claiming to be a Palestinian guerrilla burst into a courtroom Thursday, gave two defendants guns and grenades and took at least 35 hostages, including the judge and jury. They freed 21 people later but demanded a bus to take their remaining captives away.

As the siege entered its 13th hour, a gunman emerged from the courtroom chained to the judge and spoke with three police officers and and demanded a bus be driven to the front of the courthouse.

The three suspects released 21 hostages - 11 law school students, two journalists, six police officers and two jurors - after negotiations with police.

No injuries were reported.

The two jurors were said to be ill. One was released after suffering from apparent heart trouble and the second is diabetic, police said.

Police said negotiators were working for the freedom of 14 to 17 others, including the judge, nine jurors and other court officials.

The takeover began when a man identified as Abdel Karim Khalki disarmed five court guards at gunpoint and distributed pistols and hand grenades to two of four defendants who were on trial for armed robbery and passing forged checks.

The three men then took up positions around the courtroom, fired four warning shots and threatened bloodshed if police intervened. A police SWAT squad took up positions around the courthouse.

The apparent leader of the gunmen, defendant Georges Courtois, 34, allowed a television journalist inside the courtroom briefly to film the scene for the national news programs.

Courtois was shown striding about the courtroom, smoking a cigar and lecturing judge Dominique Bailhache, 45, a defense lawyer, a prosecutor and the jurors, who all sat in shocked silence.

The second armed defendant, Patrick Thiollet, held a pistol and hand grenade and stood menacingly behind the grim-faced judge.

The man who burst into the courtroom, identified by Courtois as Khalki, was shown standing behind the jury. News reports said Khalki was released from prison Nov. 29 after serving two years of a five-year term for armed robbery.

``If we must kill two, three or four people or throw the grenades, I want you to know that it will be the fault of the police,`` Courtois said.

``The slightest sign of intervention by the police will be followed within the next minute by immediate repercussions,`` Courtois said, later firing a gunshot into the ceiling.

It was not immediately clear if the other two defendants on trial - Yannick Brevet, 31, and Christelle Dislar, 27 - were participating in the takeover or were hostages themselves.